Columbus SSD Application Lawyer

Social Security Disability can be a notoriously complex maze of rules and requirements. If you live in Columbus and need assistance with the SSD application process, our lawyers are just a phone call away.

When you work with an SSD attorney from Berger and Green, you get guidance from an experienced lawyer who has helped secure more than $500 million in compensation and benefits for people in need. We help you support your SSD application with proper evidence and appeal your denied claims when necessary.

Who Is Eligible for SSD?

Social Security Disability (SSD) actually refers to two separate benefit programs, each with some distinct eligibility requirements. The first program, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), provides a financial safety net for disabled workers who have paid Social Security taxes on their employment income. Through these tax contributions, workers earn credits. To qualify for SSDI, you usually need 40 credits, but some younger people qualify with fewer.

The second program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is not tied to work credits. It is for disabled people of any age (or non-disabled people at retirement age) who have limited income and resources.

Our SSD application process attorneys review claims for people living in Columbus. We assist with both SSDI and SSI, and some applicants may qualify for benefits from both programs concurrently.

How Do You Apply for SSD?

There are three ways you can apply for SSD: online, by phone, or in person at your local Social Security office. If You can apply for SSDI benefits on your own. Many applicants do, and the SSA does not require you to have an attorney to apply. However, the application asks for detailed medical and work history, and errors or missing information are common reasons for denial. Berger and Green attorneys can help you complete the application, gather the right documentation, and prepare a claim.

In addition to your application, you will need to provide the SSA with various documents regarding your medical and work history, as well as your contact information, proof of identification, and proof of citizenship or legal residency.

What Documents Do You Need to Submit With Your SSD Claim?

When determining SSD eligibility, the SSA is primarily concerned with your medical information and information regarding your employment or financial situation. In general, you will need to submit the following.

Medical Evidence

For anyone seeking SSDI or SSI, you will have to supply medical evidence showing that:

1. You cannot earn more income than the monthly substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit (set by the SSA annually).
2. You cannot do the work you did before you developed your condition or adjust to any other type of work.
3. Your condition has lasted (or is expected to last) at least 12 months or result in death.

To establish the above, you will need to send the SSA your medical records, including treatment notes, lab test results, a list of your medications, contact information for your doctors, and more.

The SSA keeps a list of severe impairments, along with the medical criteria to prove they are disabling, in the “Blue Book.” It includes conditions such as cancer, chronic heart disease, immune system disorders, and respiratory disorders, but lists many, many, more. Crucially, your condition does not have to be in the Blue Book for you to be eligible. Our attorneys assist people in Columbus with both listed and unlisted conditions when they are in the SSD application process.

Work History or Financial Information

If you are seeking SSDI, you will need to send the SSA a detailed history of your employment, including employment dates and contact information for the places you worked. For SSI applications, you will need to provide financial information about your income and assets, including your bank accounts, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, property, and vehicles.

What Is the Timeline for an SSD Claim?

It can take the SSA several months to approve an SSD application. If your application is denied, you will need to file an appeal. The appeal process is time consuming and will take many months. If you are awarded benefits, there is a mandatory five-month waiting period before you can receive SSDI benefits. Once the SSA approves your application, you can get payments starting six months after the date of the onset of your disability. There is no waiting period for SSI.

What Should You Do if the SSA Denies Your Application?

Our attorneys do everything possible to guide Columbus applicants through the SSD application process and help you avoid a denied claim. If you are not successful on your first try, do not panic. You are in the same boat as nearly two-thirds of all applicants, and you have the right to an appeal. We help you build a stronger claim with new evidence or documentation, and serve as your voice through the appeals process.